If you’ve been following the lead up to the Adelaide Fashion Festival, it has certainly had it all. Perhaps this year, more than any other, South Australia is prepared with more international names and international-standard designers than ever before. Runways have sold out well in advance. Coco Rocha is on her way. The Daily Edited has arrived. Milan has been calling our fashion models. And there are several names who will ensure that the world is watching…
But the launch event was something unexpected in many ways. A return to a sense of place; a refocus upon history and the unique narrative that Adelaide lends to an industry largely focused upon communicating to a global audience. Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute on Grenfell Street played host to the evening, drenched in red light to reflect the Kaurna (pronounced Garna) origins of its title; ‘place of the Red Kangaroo’.
Welcomed by the traditional owners of the land, the evenings formalities covered the support of the State Government in the growth of the industry and the development of the festival. Creative Director Chris Kontos spoke energetically about what was to come over the coming days; an industrious collection of dedicated and passionate designers will have the spotlight deservedly shone upon them. But in an industry usually punctuated by names, brands and reputations the great equalizer of the opening night was the teaser parade; a broad collection of striking white designs, each contributing to the story of our local industry, set to the deep red light and captivating backdrop of Electric Fields paired with contemporary dance.
Theatrics can often make or break the emotional connectivity of a crowd to an event. The staging, music and melting pot of designs, enhanced by the choice of location, was an injection of energy. If this is to set the tone for the coming four days; the markets, runways, events and showcases then we are in for a Festival that may secure a position in Adelaide’s broader consciousness for the coming twelve months until its return.
Photography by Vueey Le Photography
Stay across all the happenings at Adelaide Fashion Festival on Glam Adelaide. To see the full program, visit the Adelaide Fashion Festival website.
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